UT notebook: Dodds' decisions making a difference for Longhorns

Updated 10:30 pm, Thursday, April 19, 2012

AUSTIN - From a posh luxury box at Disch-Falk Field last week, DeLoss Dodds watched Augie Garrido coach his 1,000th Texas baseball game. Then he came to the same conclusion he'd been coming to for more than a decade.

He wouldn't mind seeing more of this.

Dodds, UT's athletic director, hasn't had to make a major hire in 14 years. He's simply kept extending the old ones, and Garrido's reportedly is next.

But what if his last three hires had gone differently? The alternate timeline is almost unimaginable:

More Information

Longhorns summary

Football

To get on the field for SMU next fall, former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert is seriously hitting the books.

Although most transfers are required by the NCAA to sit out a full season before they're eligible to play at a new school, a loophole exists for players who have earned their degrees and decide to attend graduate school elsewhere. According to the Dallas Morning News, Gilbert is taking 27 credit hours of classes at UT this semester to graduate in May.

Gilbert started all of his sophomore season and his first two games as a junior before being benched and undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Shortly thereafter, he announced his intention to transfer.

Because the NCAA granted him a medical hardship, he will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he arrives at SMU.

Golf

Freshman Jordan Spieth, the best player on UT's No. 1 men's golf team, is playing in his fifth PGA Tour event this weekend at the Valero Texas Open.

April 2, 2004: With Majerus forced to retire, the Longhorns take a chance on UTEP coach Billy Gillispie.

June 27, 2004: Fullerton wins Garrido's fifth CWS championship.

Jan. 4, 2006: In an epic Bowl Championship Series title game, Vince Young races into the Rose Bowl end zone to lead No. 2 OU over No. 1 USC. At last, Brown is known for more than just beating up on UT every October.

Nov. 25, 2006: After losing again to Texas A&M, UT fires Barnett. He's remembered fondly for at least being better than John Mackovic.

April 2, 2007: Led by freshman sensation Kevin Durant, North Carolina wins a national title.

July 8, 2011: Realizing they have an extra $200 million, ESPN executives announce plans for a 24-hour network dedicated to nothing but Tim Tebow. Time Warner Cable and Comcast immediately agree to carry it.

April 20, 2012: A retired Dodds decides to stop by Disch-Falk Field. There are no luxury boxes, but the crowd is sparse tonight.